Adolescence and youth are periods of significant maturational changes which seems to involve greater susceptibility to disruptive events in the brain such as binge drinking (BD). This prevalent pattern of consumption -characterized by repeated alcohol intoxications- is of special concern, as it has been associated with major neurocognitive impairments in the young brain.
Recent studies indicate that alcohol may disrupt the gut microbiota (GM) and that these disruptions may lead to impairments in brain and behavior. Also, interventions with psychobiotics have been shown to result in reductions in alcohol-induced damage and in improvements on cognitive and brain functioning.
Thus, the present proposal will explore the effects of BD on GM. Additionally, a GM intervention with psychobiotics both in-vivo and in-vitro, will determine whether improvements in GM composition/function may lead to reductions of alcohol-induced brain damage in BD-population, a barely unexplored research field with major clinical applications.
College students whose native language is Portuguese;
Age 18-23 years;
Binge Drinkers: report (i) drinking 4 (for women)/5 (for men) or more drinks on one occasion at least once a month, (ii) drinking at a speed of at least two drinks per hour during these episodes (which brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 g/dL or above), and (iii) having an AUDIT score < 20.
Non/Low-Drinkers: report (i) never drinking 4/5 or more drinks on one occasion and (ii) having an AUDIT score ≤ 4.
Use of illicit drugs as determined by the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT);
Alcohol abuse (i.e., AUDIT ≥ 20);
Personal history of psychopathological disorders (according to DSM-V criteria);
History of traumatic brain injury or neurological disorder;
University of Minho
Lead sponsor
Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal
Collaborator